Search
shop

Lucy Charles-Barclay says ‘don’t copy the pros for everything’ after racing BRUTAL T100 Singapore despite illness

Cold and Flu like symptoms hampered the 2023 IRONMAN world champions bid for glory in Singapore
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

On the surface, a third-place finish at the T100 World Tour event in Singapore on Saturday for Lucy Charles-Barclay is a fantastic result.

The 2023 IRONMAN World Champion missed the entire second half of the 2024 season following a DNF at T100 London – with a muscle injury ending her hopes of an IMWC title defence in Nice in September.

In her first race back, the 31-year-old British superstar produced a solid display across all three phases to take a creditable podium in the Singapore heat behind compatriot Katie Waugh who claimed a sensational victory on debut.

LCB reveals Singapore pre-race dilemma

However, Lucy revealed afterwards that she had almost called it quits before the race due to illness.

She detailed her plight on her Instagram account following the race, saying she had suffered “classic cold and flue like symptoms”.

“I wasn’t sure whether to share this, but I think it’s important to show the dilemmas professional athletes face, because sometimes, the choices we make at this level shouldn’t be seen as a blueprint.

Lucy Charles-Barclay admits she wasn’t 100% in Singapore [Photo: James Mitchell/T100]

“My prep for this race had gone really well. I had an uninterrupted winter block, some of my best training numbers in years, and real momentum. I was excited to show it.

“Then race week hit, and so did a sore throat, followed by classic cold and flu symptoms. It was infuriating. After how last season ended, I was desperate to start strong. But I’ve learned: you can’t just “push through” the fatigue from a virus. It doesn’t work.

“Nine times out of ten, I wouldn’t start a race this brutal after being sick. That’s the smart choice. But this was the one time I felt the mental toll of a DNS would’ve been worse than the physical toll of racing. Not brave, not clever, just necessary for my overall health.

Feeling flat

The symptoms resolved themselves prior to race day, but a week of being unable to put in the necessary work to compete at the highest level left their mark on British great.

“By race day, the symptoms had mostly gone, but I felt flat. My power on the bike was the lowest I’ve ever recorded, 35 watts down from Singapore last year. The one upside? My heat tolerance held up, so the protocols are clearly working.

“Moral of the story? Don’t copy everything you see the pros doing. Prioritise your health, and let us make the reckless decisions so you don’t have to.”

Stuart Dick
Written by
Stuart Dick
Stuart is a graduate of the University of Sunderland with a masters' degree in Sports Journalism. He spends a lot of his time running and cycling around West Yorkshire, England.
Discover more
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumHow to pace a triathlon to leave it all out there WITHOUT blowing up
FORM Smart Swim 2 PRO lens close up
FORM Smart Swim Pro 2 Goggles review: can these high tech goggles actually help you to train smarter and swim faster?
Premium‘The difference from triathlon is so big – there’s no comparison’: Maya Kingma on life in the Women’s WorldTour peloton
Laura Siddall Challenge Roth 2025 finish line
PremiumLaura Siddall: 10 things I’ve learned from my professional triathlon career
TRIFIT VORTEX tri suit
The small but mighty tri brand you NEED to know about: Why TRI-FIT are on a mission to disrupt the triathlon apparel scene
latest News
Hayden Wilde happy T100 Singapore 2025
Hayden Wilde – is he BACK for T100 London after injury nightmare?
Sam Laidlow run Roundhay Park IRONMAN Leeds 2025
‘I’m ready for it’ – Sam Laidlow on why triathlon is hitting new heights in 2025 ahead of IRONMAN World Champs
Alistair Brownlee Olympics Triathlon London 2012 Podium Gold
Olympic icon Alistair Brownlee reveals most British thing ever when it comes to fuelling recovery
Lionel Sanders IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside 2025 celebration finish line
Lionel Sanders provides BIG update on triathlon comeback
Gwen Jorgensen World Triathlon Cup Tongyeong 2023 run
Olympic triathlon champion Gwen Jorgensen issues last call for scholarship fund for young athletes
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...